Paper folding machine



A 22, 1967 LL. MAYER ET'AL 3,336,126

PAPER FOLD ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 16, 1962 Aug. 22, 1967- L-. L. MAYER ETAL 3,336,726

- I PAPER FOLDING. MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C(l {54 C2 34, C554. Cr: M

l 1 MI M52 fis MSfl sfils i 55 5 55 2; I F

P16 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,336,726 PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Lothar Leopold Mayer, 12 Hettie St., Cyrildene, Johannesburg, Transvaal, and Bernhard Ralph Kirschuer, 38

Troon Road, Emmarentia, Johannesburg, Transvaal,

both of Republic of South Africa Filed Oct. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 230,862 Claims priority, application Republic of South Africa,

Oct. 18, 1961, R 61/2,007

8 Claims. (Cl. 53-117) This invention relates to a for collating, by insettin g.

According to the invention, a method of collating sheet material by insetting includes the steps of causing a master sheet of a predetermined minimum stiffness to travel in a determined direction, and of then feeding a second sheet of foldable material transversely across the direction of travel of the master sheet, whereby the master sheet while it is being fed engages and buckles the second sheet which wraps around the master sheet to form a collated assembly.

The method may include the further step of causing the assembly to travel along a determined direction, and of then feeding at least one further sheet of foldable material transversely across the direction of travel of the assembly, whereby the assembly engages and buckles the further sheet which wraps around the master sheet to form a composite collated assembly. The master sheet may be a card, or a sheet of foldable material such as paper.

Further according to the invention sheet material collating apparatus comprises master sheet material feed means for feeding a master sheet, transverse feed means for feeding a foldable sheet of material transversely across the direction of feed of the master sheet, a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet and spaced from the master sheet feed means such that the master sheet can be fed onto a foldable sheet to cause it to buckle between the abutment shoulders and such that the master sheet enters between the abutment shoulders while being fed.

The master sheet material feed means may comprise a pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having a common tangential plane, and the abutment shoulders may be provided by a further pair of rollers spaced from the first pair, and having also a common tangential plane, drive means to drive the rollers in contra-rotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in region and a lead-out region, at least one sheet feed means adapted to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; whereby a master sheet of predetermined minimum stiffness fed into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers will be fed by the first pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle a transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means, into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between the second pair of rollers.

The apparatus may include a plurality of further pairs of rollers the rollers of each pair being disposed on either side of their common tangential plane, and the pairs of rollers being arranged in spaced series, the lead-in region of a succeeding pair of rollers being next in line to the lead-out region of the preceding pair of rollers, drive means to drive the further pairs of rollers in contrarotating fashion, feed means for each further pair of method and to apparatus and folding sheet material such as paper 3,335,726 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 rollers and arranged each to feed at least one sheet of foldable sheet material transversely to the tangential plane of the said pair of rollers and between the lead-in region of the said pair of rollers and the lead out region of the preceding pair of rollers in the series.

The common tangential planes of the various pairs of rollers may be co-planar, and there may be provided master feed means for feeding a master sheet to the master sheet material feed means i.e. into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers.

The master feed means may include a further roller in rolling contact with one of the rollers of the first pair of rollers on the lead-in region side and on one side of the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers, and a lead-in guide member extending away from the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers and sloping at an angle to the common tangential plane of the said rollers such that the guide member defines an obtuse angle with the direction of travel of the master sheet along the plane, and stop means on the guide member; whereby a foldable sheet fed in between the further roller and its coacting roller will travel transversely to the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers, slide along the guide member until it abuts against the stop means and buckle into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers for engagement by these rollers and transmission along the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers.

The apparatus may include an end-of-series pair of rollers having drive means, an end-of-series roller in rolling contact with one of the rollers of the end-of-series pair of rollers on the lead-out region side and having a transverse common tangential plane intersecting that of the end-of-series pair of rollers and defining a side lead-in region and a side lead-out region disposed to one side of the lead-out region of the end-of-series pair of rollers, a lead-out guide member extending away from the leadout region and disposed to one side and transversely to the common tangential plane of the end-of-series pair of rollers, stop means on the guide member, envelope blank feed means for feeding an envelope blank transversely to the common tangential plane on the lead-in region side of the end-of-series pair of rollers; whereby a transversely disposed envelope blank fed by the envelope feed means is buckled by a master sheet or a collated or composite collated assembly into the lead-in region of the end-ofseries pair of rollers, and in passing out between them is deflected by the guide member and guided until it abuts against the stop means whereupon further rotation of the end-of-series pair of rollers will cause the envelope to buckle into the side lead-in region into engagement with the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller to be rolled flat by the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller.

The apparatus may include control means to prevent the operation of the master feed means to feed a master sheet, unless a sheet of foldable material is in position transversely in line with the lead-in region of a pair of rollers. There may be provided an electrical control circuit for the master feed means; an electrical control circuit for the sheet feed means; and control means comprising a first set. of contacts in the master feed means control circuit and which are normally closed when unoperated, a second set of contacts in the sheet feed means control circuit and which are normally open unoperated, a relay coil corresponding to each sheet feed means and arranged to operate both sets of contacts, and a trigger switch in series with the relay coil and openable by a sheet of foldable material when it is in position for collation.

A plurality of sheet feed means may be provided each having its own relay coil, the first sets of contacts of the several relay coils being arranged in series in the master feed means control circuit, and there being provided a master switch for each relay coil and in series with it; whereby any sheet feed means may be rendered inactive by opening its master switch and whereby the master feed means remains inoperative untilall active feed means have operated and sheets of foldable material are in their respective positions ready for collating.

The apparatus may have the axes of its pairs of rollers horizontal and their common tangential planes vertical. Each sheet feed means may include a platform adapted to support a sheet of material in position for collating; and the trigger switch may include an electrical contact area flush with the upper surface of the platform, and at least one resilient contact urged into electrical contact with the contact area; whereby electrical contact between contact area and the contact may be broken by a sheet of foldable sheet material fed into the platform by raising the contact and separating it from the contact area and maintaining a trigger switch open until the sheet is withdrawn by collation.

The apparatus may include a prime mover, drive means including a clutch from the prime mover to the master sheet drive means and to each sheet feed means, the clutches of the several feed means being operable by the several electrical control circuits.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, shown in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation of a collating machine as at I-I in FIGURE 2',

FIGURE 2 shows a rear elevation as at IIII in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 shows a side view of sheet feed means in direction of arrows IV-IV as in FIGURE 1',

FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation of the arrangements for driving the apparatus;

FIGURE 6 shows a fragmentary view of the drive means;

FIGURE 7 shows a detail sectional side elevation of a guide member;

FIGURE 8 shows a detail end elevation of one of the rollers and its bias means for biassing it into rolling contact with its mating roller;

FIGURE 9 shows schematically the circuit diagram of the main motor drive;

FIGURE 10 shows schematically a circuit diagram of the control circuits for the sheet feed means;

FIGURE 11 shows schematically the circuit diagram of the master feed means control circuit;

FIGURE 12 shows schematically the circuit arrangements of the various relay coils; and

FIGURE 13 shows an envelope blank in partly folded form.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers to a middle support plate supporting in association with side support plate 12 a plurality of rollers about horizontal axes. The rollers are arranged in pairs in series 1-14, 2-14, 3-14 and so on to (n1)14, and n-14, the pairs rolling on each other in contra-rotating fashion in the direction of arrows 16. The master sheet material feed means referred to hereinbefore, includes the rollers 114. Each pair of rollers is comprised of a driving roller 14a and a driven roller 14b biassed into contact with driving roller 14a by means of spring 18 acting on split bush 20 (see FIGURE 8). The pairs of rollers are arranged in vertical spaced relationship, each pair of rollers having a lead-in region 22 and a lead-out region 24. The rollers 14a are driven via toothed gear wheels 25 connected to the rollers and meshing with gear wheels 26 rotatably supported in middle support plate 10 and side plate 11.

shows a part plan view as at IIIIII in M iii) A further roller 28 is provided, and is mounted in rolling contact with driven roller 14b of the upper pair of rollers 114 and defines a sidewardly disposed lead-in region 22a and a lead-out region 24a in association with driven roller 14b of the upper pair of rollers 1-14. Each pair of rollers 1-14 to n-14, has a common tangential plane, and in the machine, shown in FIGURE 1, the various common tangential planes of the various pairs of rollers 1-14 to 11-14 are co-planar.

A guide member 30 in the form of a sloping platform, is provided disposed at an obtuse angle to the common tangential plane between roller 28 and roller 14b. An adjustable stop 32 is provided, adjustable in position relative to guide member 30, and relative to the lead-in region 22 of the upper pair of rollers 1-14. This guide member 30, may be mounted to be removable so that it need not be in operation unless required.

Each pair of rollers 1-14 to 11-14, may be provided with a platform 34 adapted to support foldable sheet material fed in the direction of arrow 36 over the lead-in region of the corresponding pair of rollers. Each platform may be provided with an adjustable stop 38 whereby the end of a foldable sheet material may be located in position relative to the lead-in region of the pair of rollers. In the drawing, the different levels of feed, are shown to come in alternately in opposite directions, but if space permits, then the feed may take place for all levels, from the same side, or transversely, as desired.

Master feed means is indicated generally by reference numeral 40 and comprises an arm 42 mounted to pivot about pin 44 and being arcuately displaceable in the direction of arrow 46. Roller 48 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow 50 and drives biassed roller 52 in contact with feed roller 54 adapted to feed sheets of foldable sheet material 56 singly onto platform 58 and between roller 48 and eccentrically mounted roller 60. This roller 60 has a rough surface to separate the sheets from each other and is mounted eccentrically to provide ready adjustment in the clearance between it and roller 48. The master feed means also includes the further roller 28, in rolling contact with driven roller 14b of pair 1-14. The roller 28 also has a common tangential plane with roller 14b, and this further common tangential plane is disposed preferably at right angles to the common tangential plane of the rollers 1-14.

Sheet feed means, similar to the master feed means 40, is provided for each level, that is for each pair of rollers 1-14 to 11-14, and they are adapted to feed sheets of foldable sheet material, in the direction of arrows 36, onto the various platforms 34. Referring to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, sheet feed means 40a is shown, of similar construction to that of 40 but arranged to feed sheets transversely into slot 62 provided in side support plate 12 (see also FIGURE 1). This feed means 40a, is arranged to feed transversely to the direction of the fed indicated by arrows 36.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 9, the apparatus is driven by a main motor 64 whose operation is controlled by a master control switch 66. The drive from the main motor 64, is carried over by way of reduction drive 68 to final drive pulley 70 which then drives the various toothed gear wheels 26 arranged in series as a gear train. If there is too much backlash in the gear train then spaced sprockets may be provided driven by chains 72, the sprockets being fast with the shafts of two or more rollers 14a.

The master feed means 40, has a driving motor 74 (MFM) (see FIGURE 11) which drives roller 48 and the drive motor 74 has a master control switch 76 arranged in series with it whereby its operation may be controlled. Contacts ISFR 1 and 2, 2SFR 1 and 2, and 3SFR 1 and 2, and so on until nSFR 1 and 2, are provided in series with the control circuit of motor 74. These contacts are contacts of sheet feed relays, a relay being provided for each sheet feed means. These contacts are normally closed when unoperated and open when operated. Relay coils SFR SFR and 82R nSFS 2 2 2 are provided, one for each sheet feed means (see FIG- URE 12). The notation, in using a denominator 2 in each reference for each relay, indicates that each relay has two pairs of contacts, namely one pair of contacts 1 and 2 identified as 1SFR 1 and 2, ZSFR 1 and 2, and so on; and another pair of contacts (to be described later) 3 and 4 identified as ISFR 3 and 4, ZSFR 3 and 4, and so on.

In series with the coil of each relay, there is provided a master switch M51, M52, and MS3, (to MSn) as shown in FIGURE 12. Furthermore, in series with the coil of each relay, there is provided a trigger contact C1, C2, C3 to Cn arranged to make electrical contact with platforms 34 or with contact regions flush with the upper surfaces of platforms 34. The platforms 34 are connected via connections 35 to the master switches M81, M82, M53, and so on (see FIGURES 1 and 12). The master switches M51, M52, and M83 need not necessarily be disposed between the contacts C1, C2, and C3 and their respective relay coils 1SFR/2, 2SFR/2, and 3SFR/2, as shown in FIGURE 12: it is sufiicient if they are arranged in series.

Referring to FIGURE of the drawings, each sheet feed means has its own driving motor 1 SFM, 2 SFM, 3 SFM, (to nSFM) and so on. The various sheet feed means motors have control switches CS1, CS2, and CS3, (to CSrz) whereby their operation may be controlled. In series with these control switches, there are provided contacts 1SFR 3 and 4, ZSFR 3 and 4, and 3SFR 3 and 4, to nSFR 3 and 4, being the second pairs of contacts previously referred to and operable by the coils of relays '1SFR/2, 2SFR/2, and 3SFR/2, to nSFR/2, and shown in FIG- URE 12 of the drawings. Control switches CS1, CS2, CS3, to CSn may be omitted if desired, control being then exercised by way of switches MS1, M82, and so on. The relay circuit is operable on low voltage, from transformer 80.

Referring further to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a pair of guide members 82 may be provided at the lead-out region from each pair of rollers 1-14, to n-14, to guide the master sheet, or collated assembly into the lead-in region of the next succeeding pair of rollers.

The lower pair of rollers n-14 constitute an end-ofseries pair of rollers arranged to receive envelope blanks, and having in association therewith sheet feed means adapted to feed envelope blanks, into position over their lead-in region 22. There is provided an end of series roller 82b in rolling contact with biassed roller 14b of the end of series pair of rollers n-14 and defining a lead in region 22b and lead-out region 24b in association with the roller 14b. An envelope guide member 30a is provided at the lead-out region from the end of series rollers n-14 and disposed transversely to the common tangential plane of the pair of rollers n-14. An adjustable stop 32a is provided, whose position is adjustable relative to the leadout region 24 from end of series rollers n-14, and also relative to the lead-in region 22b.

In line with the rollers 82 and 14b, there are provided envelope flap adhesive applying rollers 90. The rollers 92 are narrower than the envelope and serve to transport it and its contents while the side flaps of the envelope are folded over by envelope flap folding means provided. Thereafter the folded over flaps are rolled flat by rollers 94 onto the rear panel of the envelope, the flaps sticking to the rear panel, as will be more fully described hereafter.

In operation (see FIGURE 1), a sheet of foldable sheet material, from stack 56 is fed in over platform 58, into the lead-in region 22a and along guide member 30 until the end of the sheet abuts against. stop.32.. Thereupon the sheet, still being fed by rollers 28 and 14b (of pair 114), buckles into the lead-in region 22 of the upper pair of rollers 1-14 (i.e. the master sheet feed means), and is engaged by them, and fed downwardly out of the lead-out region 24 of the upper pair of rollers 114, into the lead-in region of the next lower pair of rollers 2-14. In doing so, the master sheet, now folded, buckles a foldable sheet disposed transversely over the lead-in region of the pair of rollers 2-14, and buckles it into the lead-in region. The buckled sheet is engaged by the rollers 2 14, and is fed downwardly onto another transversely disposed sheet and so on, until the folding of the final sheet disposed over the pair of rollers "-14, the final sheet being an envelope blank. The envelope blank in passing downwardly between the pair of rollers n14, is guided along the guide member 30a until it abuts against stop 32a whereupon the envelope blank buckles into lead-in region 22b, in similar fashion to the buckling of the master sheet into lead-in region 22 of rollers 114. The blank is then engaged and folded by rollers 14b and 82 and is carried transversely out of lead-out region 24b through rollers 90, 92, and 94, where adhesive is applied to the flaps of the envelope, and the flaps are then folded over sealingly onto the envelope blank.

Referring to FIGURE 13 of the drawings, the envelope blank comprises a front panel 190 having side flaps 102 foldable along lines 104 and in the direction of arrows 106. The blank comprises further a rear panel 108 foldable in direction of arrow 110 and a tuck-in flap 112 foldable in direction of arrow 114. In operation, the tuckin flap 112 will be folded first, that is by the rolling action of the pair of rollers n-14, thereupon the folding of the back flap 108 onto the front flap will take place by the rollers 82 and 14b (of I 14). The application of adhesive to the flaps 102, and their folding over onto the rear flap 108, will take place in the rollers 90, 92, and 94. Rolling in this sequence will cause the tuck-in flap 112 to be disposed between the rear panel 108 and the I front panel 100.

If desired, instead of having the master feed means feeding foldable sheet material transversely, master feed means may be provided, arranged to feed master sheets not requiring folding, directly and vertically into the leadin region 22 of the upper pair of rollers 1-14. Furthermore, if wrapping in an envelope is not required, then the guide member 30a may be dispensed with and the collated material only may be collected below the rollers n-14.

As many of the sheet feed means as may be necessary may be rendered inactive and only those used as are required. A sheet feed means may be rendered inactive by opening its master switch MS which will render its relay SFR inactive and its contacts 3 and 4 will then be open and its contacts 1 and 2 will be closed. The open contacts 3 and 4 will prevent the operation of its sheet feed means motor SFM. The fact that its contacts 1 and 2 will be closed will therefore permit the remainder of the machine to operate.

In FIGURES 10 and 11, the master sheet feed means and the sheet feed means are shown as having each its own motor 74 (MFM) and SFM, separately energizable. Instead, one or more lay shafts may be provided driven from the main motor 64, and clutches connecting the lay shafts to the various drives, the clutches being magnetic clutches or being electrically operable by solenoids directly, or hydraulically or pneumatically by solenoid controlled valves, control being exercised in similar fashion to that shown in FIGURES 10, 11, and 12.

The spacing between adjacent pairs of rollers, in the series 1-14, to n-14, may be such, and the length of foldable sheet material may be such that, the master sheet or an assembly at any level may still be in rolling contact with the preceding pair of rollers when it and the next transverse foldable sheet are engaged by the succeeding pair of rollers. The master sheet or the assembly is therefore forced by the previous pair of rollers, onto the transverse sheet to buckle it into the lead-in region of the next pair of rollers and into engagement with them. It is possible therefore, although not essential for an assembly to be in rolling engagement simultaneously with two pairs of adjacent rollers.

It will be understood that a sheet of foldable material may comprise a sheet already folded.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention avoids the use of a folding blade and hence the use of mechanism to provide a blade folding action is avoided.

What is claimed is:

1. Sheet material collating apparatus comprising master sheet material feed means including a first pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having a common t-angential plane, for feeding a master sheet in the direction of the common tangential plane of the rollers; a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet, the abutment shoulders being provided by a second pair of rollers spaced from the first pair and having also a common tangential plane; drive means to drive the rollers in contrarotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in region and a lead-out region; sheet feed means adapted to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead-out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; and a plurality of further pairs of rollers, the rollers of each pair being disposed on either side of their common tangential plane, and the first, second and further pairs of rollers being arranged in spaced series, the leadin region of a succeeding pair of rollers being next in line to the lead-out region of the preceding pair of rollers; drive means to drive the further pairs of rollers in contra-rotating fashion; further sheet feed means for each further pair of rollers and arranged each to feed at least one sheet of foldable sheet material transversely to the tangential plane of the said pair of rollers and between the lead-in region of the said pair of rollers and the lead-out region of the preceding pair of rollers in the series; the arrangement being such that a master sheet of predetermined stififness fed into the lead-in region of a preceding pair of rollers will be fed by said preceding pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the succeeding pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle the transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means for said succeeding pair of rollers, into the leadin region of said succeeding pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between said succeeding pair of rollers.

2. Sheet material collating apparatus comprising master sheet material feed means including a first pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having a common tangential plane, for feeding a master sheet in the direction of the common tangential plane of the rollers; a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet, the abutment shoulders being provided by a second pair of rollers spaced from the first pair and having also a common tangential plane; drive means to drive the rollers in contrarotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in and lead-out region; sheet feed means adpated to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead-out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; and master feed means for feeding a master sheet into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers, the master feed means including a further roller in rolling contact with one of the rollers of the first pair of rollers on the leadin region side and on one side of the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers, and a lead-in guide member extending away from the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers and sloping at an angle to the common tangential plane of the said rollers such that the guide member defines an obtuse angle with the direction of travel of the master sheet along the plane, and stop means on the guide member; the arrangement being such that a master sheet of predetermined minimum stiffness fed into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers will be fed by the first pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle a transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means, into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between the second pair of rollers, and whereby a foldable sheet fed in between the further roller and its coacting roller will travel transversely to the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers, slide along the guide member until it abuts against the stop means and buckle into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers for engagement by these rollers and transmission along the common tangential plane of the first pair of rollers.

3. Sheet material collating apparatus comprising master sheet material feed means including a first pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having'a common tangential plane, for feeding a master sheet in the direction of the common tangential plane of the rollers; a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet, the abutment shoulders being provided by a second pair of rollers spaced from the first pair and having also a common tangential plane; drive means to drive the rollers in contrarotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in and a lead-out region; sheet feed means adapted to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead-out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; and an end-of series pair of rollers having drive means, an end-of-series roller in rolling contact with one of the rollers of the end-of-series pair of rollers on the lead-out region side and having a transverse common tangential plane intersecting that of the end-of-series pair of rollers and defining a side lead-in region and a side lead-out region disposed to one side of the lead-out region of the end-of-series pair of rollers, a lead-out guide member extending away from the lead-out region and disposed to one side and transversely to the common tangential plane of the end-of-series pair of rollers, stop means on the guide member, envelop blank feed means for feeding an envelop blank transversely to the common tangential plane on the lead-in region side of the endof series pair of rollers; the arrangement being such that a master sheet of predetermined minimum stifiness fed into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers will be fed by the first pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle a transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means, into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between the second pair of rollers, and whereby a transversely disposed envelope blank fed by the envelope feed means in buckled by a master sheet or a collated or composite collated assembly into the lead-in region of the end-of-series pair of rollers, and in passing out between them is deflected by the guide member and guided until it abuts against the stop means whereupon further rotation of the end-of-series pair of rollers will cause the envelope to buckle into the side lead-in region into engagement with the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller to be rolled fiat by the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller.

4. Sheet material collating apparatus comprising master sheet material feed means including a first pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having a common tangential plane, for feeding a master sheet in the direction of the common tangential plane of the rollers; a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet, the abutment shoulders being provided by a second pair of rollers spaced from the first pair and having also a common tangential plane; drive means to drive the rollers in contrarotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in region and a lead-out region; sheet feed means adapted to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead-out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; the arrangement being such that a master sheet of predetermined minimum stiffness fed into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers will be fed by the first pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the sec- 0nd pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle a transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between the second pair of rollers; an end-of-series pairof rollers having drive means; an end-of-series roller in rolling contact with one of the rollers of the end-of-series pair of rollers on the lead-out region and having a transverse tangential plane intersecting that of the end-of-series pair of rollers and defining a 'side lead-in region and a side lead-out region disposed to one side of the lead-out re gion of the end-of-series pair of rollers; 21 lead-out guide member extending away from the lead-out region and disposed to one side and transversely to the common tangential plane of the end-of-series pair of rollers; stop means on the guide member; envelope blank feed means for feeding an envelope blank having a pair of laterally spaced side sealing flaps, transversely to the common tangential plane of the lead-in region of the end-of-series pair of rollers; adhesive applying means after the end-of-series roller to apply adhesive to the sealing flaps; and folding and rolling means to fold the flaps over after adhesive has been applied and to roll them into sealing engagement with and onto the blank; the arrangement further being such that a transversely disposed envelope blank fed by the envelope feed means is buckled by the master sheet or a collated or composite collated assembly passing through between the second paid of rollers into the leadin region of the end-of-series pair of rollers, and in passing out between them is deflected by the guide member and guided until it abuts against the stop means whereupon further rotation of the end-of-series pair of rollers Will cause the envelopeto buckle into the side lead-in region into engagement with the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller to be rolled flat by the end-of-series roller and its coacting roller, whereafter adhesive is applied to the side sealing flaps by the adhesive applying means, and the side sealing flaps are folded over by the folding and rolling means into sealing engagement with and onto the blank.

5. Sheet material collating apparatus comprising master sheet material feed means including a first pair of opposed coacting rollers, the rollers having a common tangential plane for feeding a master sheet in the direction of the common tangential plane of the rollers; a pair of laterally spaced abutment shoulders on either side of the direction of feed of the master sheet, the abutment shoulders being provided by a second pair of rollers spaced from the first pair and having also a common tangential plane; drive means to drive the rollers in contra-rotating fashion whereby each pair of rollers when rotating has a lead-in and a lead-out region; sheet feed means adapted to feed a sheet of foldable material transversely to the common tangential planes of both pairs of rollers and between the lead-out region of the first pair of rollers and the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers; master feed means for feeding a master sheet into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers; control means to prevent the operation of the master feed means to feed a master sheet, unless a sheet of foldable material is in position transversely in line with the lead-in region of a pair of rollers, the control means comprising an electrical control circuit for the master feed means, an electrical control circuit for each sheet feed means, and control means comprising a first set of contacts in the master feed means control circuit and which are normally closed when unoperated and a second set of contacts in the sheet feed means control circuit and which are normally open when unoperated and a relay coil corresponding to each sheet feed means and arranged to operate both sets of contacts and a trigger contact in series with the relay coil and openable by a sheet of foldable material when it is in position for collation; the arrangement being such that a master sheet of predetermined minimum stiffness fed into the lead-in region of the first pair of rollers will be fed by the first pair of rollers into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers and in travelling will buckle a transversely disposed sheet of foldable material, fed by the sheet feed means, into the lead-in region of the second pair of rollers thus causing the foldable sheet to be folded over onto the master sheet in passing through between the second pair of rollers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 comprising a plurality of sheet feed means each having its own relay coil, and in which the first sets of contacts of the several relay coils are arranged in series in the master feed means control circuit, and in which there is provided a master switch for each relay coil and in series with it; whereby any sheet feed means may be rendered inactive by opening its master switch and whereby the master feed means remains inoperative until all active feed means have operated and sheets of foldable material are in their respective positions ready for collation.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 having the axes of its pairs of rollers horizontal and their common tangential planes vertical, and in which each sheet feed means includes a platform adapted to support a sheet of material in position for collating; and in which the trigger contact includes at least one resilient contact urged into electrical contact with an electrical contact area flush with the upper surface of the platform; whereby electrical contact between contact area and the contact may be broken by a sheet of foldable sheet material fed onto the platform by raising the contact and separating it from the contact area and maintaining the trigger switch open until the sheet is withdrawn by collation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which independent drive motors are provided for the master sheet feed means and the sheet feed means, the motors being energizable by the several electrical control circuits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 148,743 3/ 1874 Packer et al. 628,509 7/1899 Wolfe 53-120 936,480 10/ 1909 Sague. 1,987,211 1/1935 Remington 53-21 2,019,212 lO/1935 Clare 53117 2,560,205 7/ 1951 Andren 52-21 2,865,155 12/1958 Nydegger 53-1 17 FOREIGN PATENTS 219-890 8/ 1958 Australia.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner. A. E. FOURNIER, Assistant Examiner. 

4. SHEET MATERIAL COLLATING APPARATUS COMPRISING MASTER SHEET MATERIAL FEED MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PAIR OF OPPOSED COACTING ROLLERS, THE ROLLERS HAVING A COMMON TANGENTIAL PLANE, FOR FEEDING A MASTER SHEET IN THE DIRECTTION OF THE COMMON TANGENTIAL PLANE OF THE ROLLERS; A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED ABUTMENT SHOULDERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DIRECTION OF FEED OF THE MASTER SHEET, THE ABUTMENT SHOULDERS BEING PROVIDED BY A SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS SPACED FROM THE FIRST PAIR AND HAVING ALSO A COMMON TANGENTIAL PLANE; DRIVE MEANS TO DRIVE THE ROLLERS IN CONTRAROTATING FASHION WHEREBY EACH PAIR OF ROLLERS WHEN ROTATING HAS A LEAD-IN REGION AND A LEAD-OUT REGION; SHEET FEED MEANS ADAPTED TO FEED A SHEET OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL TRANSVERSELY TO THE COMMON TANGENTIAL PLANES TO BOTH PAIRS OF ROLLERS AND BETWEEN THE LEAD-OUT REGION OF THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS AND THE LEAD-IN REGION OF THE SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS; THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT A MASTER SHEET OF PREDETERMINED MINIMUM STIFFNESS FED INTO THE LEAD-IN REGION OF THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS WILL BE FED BY THE FIRST PAIR OF ROLLERS INTO THE LEAD-IN REGION OF THE SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS AND IN TRAVELLING WILL BUCKLE A TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED SHEET OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL, FED BY THE SHEET FEED MEANS INTO THE LEAD-IN REGION OF THE SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS THUS CAUSING THE FOLDABLE SHEET TO BE FOLDED OVER ONTO THE MASTER SHEET IN PASSING THROUGH BETWEEN THE SECOND PAIR OF ROLLERS; AN END-OF-SERIES PAIR OF ROLLERS HAVING DRIVE MEANS; AN END-OF-SERIES ROLLER IN ROLLING CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE ROLLERS OF THE END-OF-SERIES PAIR OF ROLLERS ON THE LEAD-OUT REGION AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE TANGENTIAL PLANE INTERSECTING THAT OF THE END-OF-SERIES PAIR OF ROLLERS AND DEFINING A SIDE LEAD-IN REGION AND A SIDE LEAD-OUT REGION DISPOSED TO ONE SIDE OF THE LEAD-OUT RE- 